NZQA registered unit standard
19905 version 2
Page 1 of 4
Title
Explain relationship issues between public sector employees and
political parties during elections
Level
5
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to identify and
explain: the principles underlying the behaviour of public sector
employees during elections; aspects of public sector activity
that require particular scrutiny prior to elections; and
procedures and protocols that apply following a general
election.
Classification
Public Sector Services > Public Sector Core Skills
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills
and knowledge
Unit 19903, Describe the election and formation of government
and implications for public sector employees.
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for people who are, or seek to be, employed in the
public sector.
2
This unit standard supports guidance material provided by the State Services
Commission as to the behaviours required of public sector employees during and
immediately after elections. These materials can be accessed through the State
Services Commission website http://www.ssc.govt.nz/display/home.asp.
3
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes the State Sector Act 1988.
4
Definitions
Public sector refers to the State sector (central Government), including the public
service, crown entities, non-uniformed staffs of the services and forces, offices of
Parliament; and all local authorities (local Government), including local authority
trading enterprises (LATEs).
Public Service refers to the departments of State which carry out core government
business and which are listed in the First Schedule to the State Sector Act 1988.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
19905 version 2
Page 2 of 4
State sector refers to all organisations that are included in the ‘Crown reporting entity’
and are referred to in s27(3) of the Public Finance Act 1989, namely: Public Service
departments; other organisations defined as departments for the purpose of the
Public Finance Act 1989; Offices of Parliament (eg the Parliamentary Commissioner
for the Environment); State owned enterprises; Crown entities; and the Reserve Bank
of New Zealand.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify and explain the principles underlying the behaviour of public sector employees
during elections.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The explanation identifies and describes the principle of business continuity
during an election.
1.2
The explanation identifies and provides an example of the need for public sector
employees to show independence from political influence during an election.
1.3
The explanation identifies the principle underlying political neutrality.
1.4
The explanation identifies and describes the need for prudent use of taxpayer
funds during an election.
Outcome 2
Identify and explain aspects of public sector activity that require particular scrutiny prior to
elections.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Aspects of public sector activity and behaviour that require scrutiny prior to an
election are identified and explained.
Range
aspects may include – making official comment; running
communications campaigns; launching new programmes;
evidence of two examples is required.
2.2
The explanation identifies and justifies a public sector organisation policy
regarding the use of departmental resources for electioneering.
2.3
The explanation identifies issues in relation to having public sector employees
having contact with Members of Parliament and/or political parties prior to
elections.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
2.4
19905 version 2
Page 3 of 4
The explanation identifies and justifies policies for the treatment of official
information requests from political parties prior to an election.
Range
requests from political parties, requests from others.
2.5
The explanation identifies policies and protocols regarding public servants
standing for election to parliament.
2.6
Organisational polices and protocols are identified to the costing of policy
options for individual political parties.
Outcome 3
Identify and explain procedures and protocols that apply following a general election.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The explanation identifies the circumstances following an election that require
the invoking of the caretaker convention.
3.2
The explanation includes the operating requirements of the caretaker
convention.
3.3
The explanation includes the duty of public servants to brief incoming Ministers
following a general election.
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
27 May 2003
Review
2
20 May 2011
31 December 2012
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0121
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
19905 version 2
Page 4 of 4
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation info@skills.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes
to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016